Thursday Games, Madden, Fantasy
Spark Early Backlash Against NFL

By

Carl Bialik and

Jason Fry

Updated Aug. 24, 2006 1:48 p.m. ET

The backlash against the NFL has preceded the season opener by two weeks. Columnists' critiques are multifaceted, centering on the league office and on spin-off industries indulging fans' fantasies of being part of the game.

"The question about the NFL has always been: When would the league go too far in its lust for world domination, and spoil what made it special?" Kevin Modesti asks in the Los Angeles Daily news....